No resort fee? It’s big news in Las Vegas, baby!

A few weeks ago I got into trouble for claiming it was difficult to find a hotel in Las Vegas that didn’t charge a resort fee.

Guess I’m not the only one who feels that way.

Harrah’s Entertainment Las Vegas resorts thinks no resort fees is news. Big news.

I’m not kidding. Here’s the press release I just received:

Reap the Benefit of No Resort Fee

Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s, Rio, Imperial Palace, Flamingo and Harrah’s Las Vegas

Jan. 13, 2010 (LAS VEGAS) —Harrah’s Entertainment Las Vegas resorts offer guests the excitement and value of the Las Vegas Strip, without the excessive fees. The Las Vegas properties, including Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Imperial Palace and Harrah’s, do not impose mandatory resort fees attached to a room reservation.

Harrah’s Entertainment Las Vegas resorts exclude mandatory resort fees, thus allowing guests to allocate their budget toward entertainment, dining, shopping or room upgrades rather than amenities that they may not use or desire. Many Strip resorts outside of the Harrah’s Entertainment Las Vegas portfolio of resorts have implemented such fees. These resorts offer competitive promotional rates; however, in many instances, an additional resort fee is assessed when booking the reservation online. In some cases, the fee may be in excess of 40 percent of the base room rate.

Resort fees range in price and services depending on the hotel and may include access to complimentary internet, bottled water, daily newspapers or use of the property’s fitness center. The amenities may or may not be of value to the guest; however, the fee remains intact regardless of use.

Guests of Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s, Rio, Imperial Palace and Harrah’s Las Vegas can remain confident that the competitive rates booked on the internet are an accurate reflection of the actual room cost per night (plus room tax), with no additional surprise fees.

Interesting. So here’s a big hotel company calling resort fees “excessive.” Gee, I wonder what their competitors on the Strip think about that?

I did a double-take on the 40 percent of the base rate statement. Can someone please tell me which hotel that is?

So resort fees are evil, and now a big Las Vegas resort has said as much.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

(Photo: Evan Wohrman/Flickr Creative Commons)

  • Fred

    the ststion hotels charge a $12.99 surcharge on rooms ranging from 22-55/night per hotels.com.

  • Eric Hendrix

    Wow, sounds great. Now if only everyone else would follow suit….but in today’s environment of excess fees and charges I’m not holding my breath.

    I have a reservation in two weeks for Aria at the new City Center. That would save me a bundle!

  • LeeAnne

    @Christopher – I had to laugh at your comment that you “got into trouble”. Yeah, a few of us disagreed with you (myself included)…and you quickly revised your article. No harm no foul…don’t worry, we still love ya!!! :-)

    As for this “press release”, what a bunch of self-serving hogwash. What this boils down to is a hotel publicly giving itself a pat on the back for NOT participating in the unethical, money-grabbing business practices that some of its competitors do. That’s news?? Harrahs actually thinks it’s worthy of a “press release” that it’s not fleecing its customers like some other hotels, by falsely reducing their rates and tacking on the difference on the back-end through “resort fees”?

    Wow. That’s a novel concept. LOOK, everyone, we’re not unethical scammers! We actually charge the rate that publish, and don’t demand more money from you at the front desk! But our competitors do! So stay with us!

    What next? A press release that their housekeepers “won’t steal your jewelry”? An announcement that “we won’t charge you for stolen towels and robes if you didn’t really take them”?

    Surreal.

  • http://mccallumsolutions.com Tom McCallum

    In this age of transparency created by the internet, I tell ALL my clients to be totally straightforward in my pricing. One great example is theReef in Cayman, which is, as far as I know, the only resort in Cayman which charges no service fees or gratutities (as many Caribbean travellers know, it is standard practice to collect a service charge which is pooled and paid out to line staff.. theReef instead pays them all a steady wage year round).

    Sounds like a plug… hey, a little.. but really it is a principle that we started with this resort, but is yet to be followed…. perhaps ahead of the curve… commercially not always smart to do.. at least until the market catches up a little !

  • Ed

    So my question is…Harrahs says:
    “Resort fees range in price and services depending on the hotel and may include access to complimentary internet, bottled water, daily newspapers or use of the property’s fitness center. The amenities may or may not be of value to the guest; however, the fee remains intact regardless of use.”

    So does this mean that the Harrahs resorts do *NOT* offer internet, daily newspapers, or other amenities that the resorts who charge a fee offer? Or are they making these fees an *option* to the user? If the latter, then what are those fees if added up separately? Do they add up to *MORE* than the resort fees charged by the other resorts?

    From what I have seen, just daily internet is usually more than a resort fee charged by most hotels.

    Ed

  • Sam Petersen

    Last Dec (2008) when we stayed at a Stations hotel, Red Rock Hotel, they charged a $40 a night resort fee. They said it was for use of spa, pool, etc. Well, in December the pool is closed, we can’t afford to use the spa, if they’re charging you to use it the least they could do it give you a free treatment for that $40. We even had to have them come in and strip the bedding off the beds because all of the bedding was down. This was even after noting it on the reservation that someone is deathly allergic to down, telling them at check in etc. We went to a Christmas part dinner before even going up to our room so they had plenty of time to change things out before we got up to the room.

  • y_p_w

    I’ve stayed at a few Harrah’s properties before (sometimes free, but not 100% so for obvious reasons). I’ve typically seen a daily wireless internet fee of around $10. However – parking is almost already free and they never charge extra for use of the pool or other facilities.

    I remember booking a hotel in Maui on Priceline, and apparently they did have a resort fee if you booked via another service. However – that did include parking, towel cards (for the pool), a couple of Mai Tais, bottled water, discounted meals/spa (which we didn’t use), and complimentary local phone use. It didn’t include their wireless internet, so we used the phone line to access a local dial-up number for my internet provider. The “resort fee” wasn’t much more than just their daily parking charge. However – we weren’t obligated to pay the resort fee if we didn’t care for the package that came with it.

  • Miku Araman

    The 40% number probably refers to some of the locals casinos which charge pretty big fees. Green Valley Ranch, for example charges $25 a day – a room rate of $62.50 would give you a 40% resort fee – you can probably get those rates during slow times. Here is a rundown of a bunch of Las Vegas resort fees – http://www.vegashotelspecial.com/index.php/2009/10/07/hidden-fees-at-las-vegas-hotels-dont-be-a-victim/

  • http://trips.wrightholdings.com Brad Wright

    I find that several hotels will waive the resort fee if you just ask them too. Ok sometimes it’s closer to demand. MGM and Encore both have waived them for me.

    Cheers!
    b

  • http://trips.wrightholdings.com Brad Wright

    My mistake on the last post. When I said MGM it’s the MGM Signatures. As for Encore, they tried to eventhough now it appears they don’t.

    b

  • http://www.djkomputer.com dj komputer

    Thanks for a good article. I am planning to goto Las Vegas within a few months and now I know to be on the lookout for the hotels that might charge extra fees. I was thinking of staying @ Venetian but looks like they might have extra fees imposed.

  • Justin

    Why is everyone so critical?

    I see NOTHING wrong with advertising honesty. Let’s for instance say you were buying a car and there were two dealers. One is notorious for slapping on a low ball sticker price, but as soon as you go to buy it and sign paperwork, 1000s in magical fees appear. On the other hand, you have a guy across the street who prices things higher but the total price is far less than the hidden fees. What is dishonest about pointing out that your “Neighbors” are being underhanded and the prices shown are NOT the prices paid?

    To me, I’d rather see a chain brag about this aspect in their marketing than say the “we’re raising our costs to better serve the customer and offer value” crap we so often hear….

  • MVFlyer

    Miku’s post is interesting–shows how these hotels raise their rates without raising their rates…charging you for a telephone in your room, when everyone and their dogs have cell phones; one place charges you for having robes, as if these cost more to launder than towels; and my personal favorite, a resort fee where the hotel won’t even tell you what it’s for. To me, these seem like out and out lies–if they’re mandatory fees, then they are part of the room rate and should be quoted as part of that rate.

  • Jennifer

    I have to disagree with LeeAnne on this one. It is a valuable piece of information to know that Harrah’s properties don’t charge resort fees. It is no different than Southwest touting no fees. It separates Southwest from the rest of the pack and it does the same for Harrah’s. Good on Harrah’s for tooting their own horn on this issue. Now if the quality of their properties were to improve, that would be a real newsmaker! Although Paris and Caesars are pretty nice hotels.

    M Resort charges $25 per day. Sometimes their rooms go for $75 per night so it’s a 33% fee.

  • LeeAnne

    @Jennifer — okay, I see your point. I certainly can’t disagree that it’s of value for a company to promote how they differ from their competitors.

    I guess I’m just so disgusted by the whole concept of these “resort fees” that any reference to them makes my blood boil. I consider them nothing more than a scam –a devious way for a hotel to reduce their published rates to attract more business, then demand the difference back from their scammed customers who might have chosen another property if they’d only known the REAL rate. And to have a large, well-known company feel the need to actually issue a press release that they DON’T scam their customers just adds to the absurdity…it’s almost like it’s legitimizing the practice.

    That’s why I compared it to announcing that their housekeepers don’t steal jewelry. I consider both practices to be equally unethical.

    Instead of legitimizing this practice by mentioning it as a common business practice, somebody should be investigating the legality of this practice at all. How can it be legal to charge for services/amenities not requested, desired, or used?

  • Allan

    I want to call BS on that. I book a stay for my mother in October 09 and paid in full. When she got there they charged her a resort fee of $9.50 per night. The Hotel was Bally’s which is one of the Harrah’s chain. So I’d like to know effective when ? I think it may be a change as to your blog.

  • betty Kruse

    We stayed at Ceasars in Nov 09 and Dec 09.
    No resort fee but per day charge of $16 for internet and $20 x 2 for fitness. There was an additional charge if we had used spa tubs/steam room. Charfes for water in room and no newspaper.
    Next time we will not stay at a Bally’s property.
    We will stay at a hotel that allows fitness and internet access for a small fee or includes it in the room charge.

  • Nobody

    At least airlines state that they are going to charge you for baggage and food and drink. It won’t be long before they have the nerve to charge to watch the in-flight movie and Internet access–after you boarded!
    Nobody

  • privett

    Well I don’t know a 40%, but I personally have had a 25% fee; Atlantis Reno- $39.95 off peak day + $10 resort fee. The items billed to the resort fee included local calls and the pool, things that are free in over half, and 98% respectively of US hotels.

  • joe

    I agree that the resort fee is just the way the Hotel can send out an email saying “rates starting at $50″ but added up 4 days plus $20 a day resort fee and you have an almost $300 bill with taxes.
    Resort fees that say “use of the pool”.. Seriously? Use of the POOL? Isn’t the pool DESIGNED for the guests of the hotel? That’s the best.

    I like Harrah’s approach saying “we aren’t going to make someone pay for something they may not want”.
    At least it’s honest pricing.

  • Alex Parts

    I travel to Vegas on Business all the time. i like to take my wife with me often so I always find hotels with no resort fee to make my bean-counters happy. I stay at harrahs properties and recently at the Golden Nugget where you can get a VERY nice room for a hundred bucks.
    sorry hotels with “Resort Fees” but my expense accounts don’t like you

  • Aaron

    I just stayed at the Aria in CityCenter, Las Vegas.

    I didn’t have a chance to do extensive research before the trip, and almost resigned myself to a resort fee. Imagine my surprise when there was none!

    This is a 5-star, brand new hotel, with no resort fee. I couldn’t be happier.

  • Bjoern

    @Aaron : Did the Aria take extra charges for internet and gym ?

    Thx for your reply,
    Bjoern.

  • Greg

    Even when you’re aware of the resort fee, you have to scrutinize your bill at checkout.

    I stayed at Hooters because of a great midweek rate – even taking into consideration the added “resort fee” (which I hate), which supposedly included use of the gym and free local telephone calls from the room.

    Yet when I checked out, I was charged for the telephone calls made from my room, even though they were all local. I had to point this out to the receptionist and have her manually remove them.

    I was very much left with the impression that it is Hooters Hotel policy to charge for all telephone calls, regardless of whether they were supposed to be included in the daily “resort fee” or not, and hope that nobody notices (which is probably most customers). Then, if someone does, just mumble “oh, sorry” and remove the fraudulent charges.

    Bad business, Hooters.

    Bad business.

  • kandi

    I went to Las Vegas Oct 23. First time traveling outside Canada. There were fees for everything. Internet was $15 a day at some hotels, resort fees were $15 to $25 a day. Some places had lodging fees too. Not sure the difference. To place a phonecall home (something I considered) the hotel operator couldn’t tell me but said it’d start at about $20 just to connect. Every one had their hand out, kind of put a damper on the holiday.

  • http://www.luxuryhotels-lasvegas.com/ Luxury Hotels Las vegas

    That is awesome about Harrahs finally making a stan for everyone who is against resort fees in Las Vegas. I know that this has drawn a tremendous amount of attention the the PH Towers. Good for Harrahs!

  • Redbeard

    Resort fees are just plain dishonest – they are really part of the room fee but hidden when you compare rates. I’m working on reservations for an upcoming trip and will limit myself to the “no resort fee” hotels to support honesty in room pricing.

  • ian travelz

    force these bastards to stop charging by supporting the other hotels
    and making sure you tell whom ever you can that you did so because
    of it.I would like to see them then have to drop their fees ,one by one
    when they realize that no one will come to stay,gamble,swim if you start
    off by ripping them off .Be smart  stay away and support those that don’t charge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • shepdogsd

    I LOVE this and have ONLY been using Harrah’s entertainment properties since this was implemented.

  • http://twitter.com/MrCravat MrCravat

    Was thinking of staying at the Luxor and Excalibur but decided to have 4 nights in a suit at the Imperial rather than get ripped off ..No resort fees and less than half the price…

  • http://twitter.com/chrisprice Christopher Price

    Head’s up, Caesar’s Entertainment has reversed course, and started (resumed) charging these awful resort fees as of March 1, 2013. When an economy gets bad, hide those rates in added fees! I just cancelled a week-long stay at Bally’s in protest. I may get stuck with a resort fee elsewhere, at least I won’t be rewarding those that played turncoat in the resort fee wars.